How to Install Gutters

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Rain gutters and downspouts are essential tools that are used to divert and carry rainwater away from the foundation of your house. They help to prevent soil erosion, damage to siding, and basement leaks. It is essential that gutters are measured, pitched, and installed correctly in order to function properly. Gutter installation is a job that many homeowners can tackle on their own with a little effort and the proper tools. Read the article below for instructions on how to install gutters.

Calculate and purchase at least the total length of gutters needed, as well as the necessary downspouts and attachment brackets. Gutters should be attached to the fascia and run the entire length of the roof, ending with a downspout. If a gutter run will measure longer than 40 feet (12 m), the gutter should be positioned to pitch down from the middle, aimed toward a downspout at each end. A fascia bracket will be attached to every other rafter tail, or approximately every 32 inches (81 cm).

Depending on the type of gutters you want, expect to pay anywhere from $2 to $6 per linear foot for aluminum gutters. Copper gutters could run as much as $20 per linear foot.[1]

Expect to pay approximately $2 per linear foot for downspouts, and $6 to $10 each for the brackets that attach the gutters to the fascia.[2]

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Inspect the fascia and soffit for any rot or decay before moving on to installation. What good will installation be if the fascia holding your gutters up rots away? To inspect the fascia, poke at the ends of fascia boards, or where two ends of fascia boards meet. If it feels spongy or compromised, you may want to consider replacing the fascia before moving on.

Think about replacing the fascia with more resistant material, or just sticking with wood.

If you believe the rotting is caused by excessive moisture due to ineffective gutters, then wood might acceptable. (You are going to install working gutters, after all.)

If you believe the rot to be caused by other factors, consider choosing a material like aluminum or vinyl that withstands the elements a bit better than wood.

Measure and snap a layout line using a chalk line. You want your gutters to work properly, and in order for them to do that, they need to have a slight downward angle to feed any running water toward the downspout.

Longer gutters (35 feet and longer) will slope from the center to each end. They will start at the same height in the middle and tilt downward to the edges, ending at the same point.

Shorter gutters should tilt from one end to the other. They should start at a high point and end at a lower point.

Locate the starting point, or highest point, of the gutter run. If your fascia board is longer than 35 feet (10.6 m), your starting point will be in the center of the fascia board. If it's shorter than 35 feet (10.7 m), your gutter will run from one end to the other.

Mark the high point on the fascia, 1.25 inches (3.175 cm) below the roof flashing with a piece of chalk.

Attach the gutter brackets on every other rafter tail.[3] Locate each rafter tail — usually spaced every 16 inches (40.6 cm) apart — by looking for their signature nail heads. After you've marked the location of each one, drill pilot holes along every other rafter tail to make installation of the brackets easier.

Brackets will either snap onto the gutters or will be mounted into the face board first, depending on the type of gutters you purchase. Review the manufacturer's recommendations for your particular type of gutter.

Wrap a thin aluminum strip around the underside of each gutter corner, riveting it into place. To keep water from leaking through small cracks or openings at conjoined corners, insulate the aluminum strip further using waterproof caulk.

This aluminum strip can be spray-painted ahead of time to blend in seamlessly with the color of the gutter.

Make the strip long enough to extend an inch or two beyond the top of the gutter. Cut a triangular shape into the top of the extending strip, and then fold each corner or the strip over onto the top of the gutter, creating a clean look.

Community Q&A

Figure out the angle and cut wood blocks. Use wood that's the same size as the facia. (If it's 2x6 facia, use 2x6 material and install it two feet apart on the facia.) An easy way to find the angle is to sit a block of wood against the outside of the facia and hold a level until the block is plumb; then, trace the line.

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 18 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has also been viewed 109,912 times.

To install gutters, have the gutters slope downward toward the downspout so they work properly. If the fascia board you're installing them on is longer than 35 feet, have the gutters slope from the center to each end. Or, if the fascia board is less than 35 feet long, have the gutter slope from one end of the board to the other. Before you get started, make sure the fascia board doesn't have any rot or decay, and replace it if it does.